On Friday night, ESPN announcer Mark Jones paid a heartfelt tribute to 91-year-old color analyst Hubie Brown, bestowing upon him a fitting nickname for the digital age. Brown is set to call his final NBA game on Sunday when the Philadelphia 76ers face the Milwaukee Bucks on ABC. It’s nearly unimaginable how much NBA history Brown has witnessed since joining the league as an assistant coach with the Bucks in 1972, later taking on more prominent coaching roles before embarking on a broadcast career that spans over 40 years.
During the 76ers-Detroit Pistons game on Friday, Jones promoted Sunday’s matchup and mentioned Brown’s impending farewell. “Folks, this will be Hall of Famer Hubie Brown’s final call of a game, his final one,” Jones stated. “An absolute legend, whose NBA career has spanned 50 years in coaching and broadcasting.” He continued, “Having worked with Hubie for most of my time here at ESPN as a sideline reporter and play-by-play announcer, we will be sad to see him go, but we are grateful for the experience of sharing in his basketball journey. And when you talk about a walking Google of basketball — I can’t use encyclopedia, kids might not understand that — this guy, you’re looking at the Google of basketball right there, Hubie Brown.”
Analyst Cory Alexander also praised Brown, stating, “Our NBA Today did a tremendous tribute to Hubie Brown today. By the way, my friend, you are spot on when you had the opportunity to spend so much time with the great Hubie Brown, who is calling his last game at 91 years young.”
Mark Jones and Cory Alexander honored Hubie Brown during Friday night’s 76ers-Pistons game.
“When you talk about a walking Google of basketball…this guy, you’re looking at Google of basketball right there,” Jones. https://t.co/6mwMQRSlCP pic.twitter.com/LNQnyAYiuo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 8, 2025
Numerous tributes to Brown have emerged, with more expected this weekend. However, referring to him as “a walking Google of basketball” might just be one of the highest praises one could offer the legendary analyst.
